Contraceptive Implants: An Opportunity to Share Your Experiences With Colleagues (2008)

The purpose of this one-week forum was to review and discuss the latest guidance on contraceptive implants featured in Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers.

                                                       

1. What are the main differences among the different implants?
2. How effective are implants compared with other family planning methods?
3. What technical (i.e., method-related, not program-related) questions, if any, do you or providers in your country have about implants?
4. Does your clinic or facility offer contraceptive implants? If yes, which implants do you offer, and can you tell us about your experiences in providing implants?
5. If your clinic does not offer contraceptive implants, can you tell us why not? Has the clinic ever considered offering them?
6. Is your clinic or facility undergoing a transition from Norplant® to Implanon®, Jadelle® or Sino-Implant (II) ® (to be trademarked as Zarin® in African countries)? If so, how is the transition going? Have there been any challenges?
7. Are Implanon®, Jadelle® or Sino-Implant (II) ® (to be trademarked as Zarin® in African countries) available in your facility? If so, how much must users pay for them? Are they provided at the same price for everyone, or are they given to low-income clients at a lower cost or free?

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1. Who can and cannot use implants? Can young women and older women use implants? Should heavy women avoid implants? Can women with HIV/AIDS use implants?
2. Can a client start using implants immediately? Does she need a pelvic exam before she can have implants inserted?
3. Do implants increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy?
4. Is there are demand for contraceptive implants? Are your clients asking for them? If so, how have your clients learned of them?
5. How does your clinic/program obtain implants? What are the barriers to availability and accessibility?
6. What would you suggest to facilitate procurement? Ideally, how would you like to obtain implants?

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1. What issues do you find with regards to removal, including access to removal?
2. Does your clinic offer removal services? If not, do you refer your clients to other clinics?
3. What is being done to guarantee that women can get their implants removed for any reason, whenever they want, and without cost? Some past Norplant programs experienced some controversy in this area.
4. How much are local service delivery groups paying for implants?
5. How much are they charging women to have an implant inserted?
6. Are clinics in your country charging clients for removal; and if so, do you think this poses a real barrier to women who want their implant removed?
7. In your opinion, how important is it ensure access to free removals?

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1. What are the most commonly asked questions that clients have
about contraceptive implants?
2. Women consider effectiveness the most important factor when they choose a contraceptive method, but also consider side effects and safety. What are the advantages of using implants?
3. What should clients be told about insertion and removal of implants?
4. In your experience, what are the most common reasons for women to either accept or reject implants?

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Weekend contributions in response to previously asked questions. 

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